“Mission scientists believe the pattern of the cells stems from the slow thermal convection of the nitrogen-dominated ices that fill Sputnik Planum,” a NASA statement explained.

“A reservoir that’s likely several miles or kilometers deep in some places, the solid nitrogen is warmed at depth by Pluto’s modest internal heat, becomes buoyant and rises up in great blobs, and then cools off and sinks again to renew the cycle,” it continued. Trippy.

William McKinnon, deputy lead of the New Horizons Geology, Geophysics and Imaging Team has put the phenomenon in layman’s terms.

“This part of Pluto is acting like a lava lamp if you can imagine a lava lamp as wide as, and even deeper than, the Hudson Bay.”

Eagle-eyed space fans have speculated whether the dark objects in the photos are in fact giant alien slugs.